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Getting Inked

Formerly adornments that guarded the turrets of ancient architecture these mystical winged creatures are also now the spiritual guardians of the human body. Griffins are most popular with bikers, Goths, Wiccans and pagans. Two Griffins by Stacey Sharp www.sharptattoos.com A British style Griffin by Dave Mcormick www.fleshink.com

That should be the motto of anyone who is considering getting a tattoo. Most people are familiar with the horror stories about those who got a tattoo on impulse. There is the bride-to-be who tattoos her fiancee's name on her ring finger and then is left standing at the altar. There is the guy who has a drunken one night stand and wakes up with a strange woman's name emblazoned across his chest as well as the forty year old corporate executive who can never roll up his...

Sometimes, for one reason or another, a tattoo may require some re-inking. If you think your tattoo needs some extra work, return to the tattooist and for his or her's educated opinion. Most are willing to redo faded or unset work for free unless you have obviously picked and peeled the tattoo right off your body. Once you have been re-inked, you will need to follow the same rules for postoperative care that you did the first time around keep it clean, moisturized, avoid soaking it and stay...

If you ask any tattoo artist, he or she will tell you that the best place to find a design is within your heart. However what is in your heart may not be the most practical design for you. Also it may be difficult to describe what is in your heart to the tattoo artist, who is after all, sitting there with a tattoo needle ready to brand you forever. It is highly recommended that you bring some kind of template or design with you before you visit the tattoo artist, as like a diamond, a tattoo is...

The Tattoo Artist Provides Samples of Previous Work Never select an artist who can not produce some kind of portfolio. A photo album of tattoos done on living skin should be provided for you to look at in the studio. An artistic display of stock tattoos on the walls is not enough to tell you that the artist has a good reputation. 2. The Tattoo Artist Lives in a Disposable Universe Nothing that that the tattoo artist uses should ever be placed back into a container. This includes ointment, ink...

Tattoo artists fall into two different categories those who have had formal training or an apprenticeship and scratchers.' The scratcher is an untrained tattooist who may be artistically gifted but rarely bothers sterilizing his instruments. The scratcher may work out of a studio, but often works from his home, a basement or the back room of a bar. They may describe themselves as freelancer. A scratcher often purchases equipment through the Internet or email. The worst thing about a scratcher...

Once you're sitting in the chair, the area to be inked is rubbed down with a cleaning solution (usually rubbing alcohol). If the area is hairy, the tattooist will shave a patch of skin a little bigger than the size of the design. Make sure that the tattooist shaves you with a new, disposable razor. The tattoo artist will then confirm the exact placement of the transfer on your skin. The skin is sometimes moistened with a scream or a swab of roll-on deodorant, which makes the transfer stand out...

If the tattoo studio does not look as clean as your doctor or dentist's office than walk right out of the door. Bad places to get tattooed are in someone's kitchen, a local bar, in the bleachers at a racetrack or at a county fair. This is because sterile conditions cannot be met in certain environments. Watching the artist in action is also highly recommended, as everything that is used to apply the tattoo should be sterilized or disposable. For instance, the artist should not be dipping his...

If you are looking for an elite and exclusive organization that has compiled a comprehensive list of the cream of the crop when it comes to tattoo artists then the publishers of this book highly recommend that you go immediately to http www.safe-tattoos.com. www.safe-tattoos.com is the official site of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists. On this site you will find the latest updated information about safety issues, Tattoo parlors, tattoo shops, piercing, body piercing, artist, artists,...

If you don't like your tattoo, consider asking the tattoo artist to give you a cover up. Tattoo artists usually have stock designs that they used to cover offending tattoos. These designs usually feature large blocks of black and featured images such as black panthers, black clouds and other chunky designs. A talented tattoo artist can redo your tattoo without resorting to blotting it out with a large dark mass. However, you need a skilled artist for a cover-up job. You will need a custom...

Primitive people also tattooed their adolescents as a rite of passage. The theory was that if a young boy couldn't take the pain of a tattoo at a young age, then he would be useless at battle. Similarly, if a young girl couldn't handle the pain of a tattoo, she would not be able to handle the pain of childbirth. Many of these children ended up with a tattoo anyway, that would label them as an outcast of the tribe. Totem animals are also another common motif in primitive tattoos. Totem animals...

Tattoo designs fall in two categories stock (sometimes called flash) tattoos or custom tattoos. Stock or flash tattoos are the pictures that you see lining the walls of tattoo parlors. Usually these images consist of perennial favorites such as anchors, hearts, skulls, dragons, butterflies, crucifixes and other common images. These are the images that the tattoo artist is willing to do for a flat rate. Custom tattoos are usually more expensive. In this case you commission the artist to draw...

The area to be tattooed will be covered in a light layer of ointment. This ointment cleans the skin, seals the transfer in place and allows the needle to move more smoothly over the skin. As with dentist drills, the sound of a tattooingmachine is much worse than the discomfort of it. If you are truly bothered by buzzing sounds it is suggested that you put on a pair of stereo headphones and listen to some music to block the noise out and calm yourself. The tattoo artist will insert the...

Biomechanical tattoos often depict machinery intertwined with human flesh. The father of all biomechanical designs is H. R. Giger, who designed the creature from the Alien movies. A typical piece of biomechanical work might depict a human hand, arm, or chest tangled with pieces of machinery such as screws, wheels, or and pulleys. The result is an image of a creature that looks half-robot, half-human. Biomechanical tattoos are considered to be fetish tattoos and take their cues from painting by...

The tribal tattoo is based on primitive traditions and is usually black and white with strong organic references such as horns and branches. The tribal style can be informed by a number of cultures include Native American, Maori, African, Celtic and Viking styles. A tattoo that combines the primitive style of fine art with references to All tattoos above reprinted by permission of Enrique Patino Bottino An example of a tattoo that incorporates Native American Indian Tribalism. By Stacey Sharp...

Historically tattoos have always been thought to bring the wearer good luck. In China, tattooing one's animal astrological symbol, such as The Pig or The Horse is thought to bring good fortune. Images of Koi, carp or goldfish were thought to bring prosperity and wealth to the bearer. In Burma, a parrot tattooed on the shoulder is thought to bring luck. In Thailand, a scroll representing Buddha in the posture of meditation is said to charm Lady Luck. Card tattoos such as the Ace of Spades and...

Early tattooing techniques seem quite barbaric by today's standards. South American tribes scratched or pricked at the skin and then smeared it with dye or dirt. The Inuit punctured the skin and passed a needle covered in soot through the open wounds. The Maoris pierced the skin with a tool used for cutting bone and then smeared ash and other dyes over the cuts. Today traditional Japanese tattoos are still created by manually puncturing the skin and wiping the wounds with dye. Fortunately,...

There are literally as many motifs and symbols for tattoos as there are ideas for art in the world. When choosing a design it might benefit to ask yourself the following questions These three simple questions should trigger your gray matter to come up with an idea of what is meaningful marking for you. Below are is a compendium of some of the most common motifs and symbols that are commonly used as tattoos.

Tattooing in ancient history was a funereal art. Images of tattooing are found on Egyptian female figurines that are dated between 4000 and 2000 years BC. Libyan figures from the tomb of Seti (1330 B.C.) also boast figures with tattoo markings on the arms and the legs. Both in ancient and modern times, primitive people believe that the spirit or astral body resembles an invisible human body. This is similar to many modern occultist beliefs about the astral body. Tattoos are applied so that the...

Although any image can be tattooed onto your body, some of them might look better on paper than they do on your skin. In general a big, bold simple image is clearer than a tiny, detailed image. Bigger images simply have more impact. American tattooist Walt Dailey sums up the bigger is better issue by saying A beautiful, big, fierce bear head design just looks like an angry hamster's face when you shrink it down. When it comes to tattoos bigger is better. If you find yourself looking at an array...

Remember to clean and apply fresh ointment to your new tattoo at least twice a day for the prescribed number of days recommended by your tattoo artist. Generally, you'll be told to use the ointment for three days or so. Some tattooists will tell you to do so until the tattoo has scabbed and others until it is healed. When you stop using the ointment continue to keep the area clean and use a lotion after washing with warm soapy water to keep the tattooed skin soft. Around the three day point,...

Logos can be words of wisdom, such as the classic Hell's Angel's logo Born for Fun, Loyal to None or they can actually mean the real corporate thing. In fact, the latest fad amongst corporate types is to have the logo of their company tattooed somewhere. This is true of the computer company Apple that now boasts something called The Apple Tattoo Cult. Just about any logo or catch phrase can become a tattoo. In fact perversions of logos are also very hip in tattoos. An example of this is the...

The most popular oceanic tattoos are fish, whales, crabs and dolphins. Fish are associated with messiahs and saviors. The ithycus fish, which is a Christian symbol, represents the renewal faith and is constructed from two simple curved and crossed lines. In China, carp represent love and courage. Goldfish represent gold coins. In North American Native Indian lore, salmon love and courage as well because of their ability to swim upstream to spawning grounds. Fish are also associated with the...

Typing the word tattoo into your search engine will bring up scores of sites inviting you to look at what are called flash or stock tattoos, which you can sometimes have for free, or a small fee. These are the same kinds of images that you often see displayed on the walls of a tattoo parlor. The idea is that you can take these templates directly to a tattoo artist and have them replicate the image on your body. Usually the tattoo artist will also personalize the tattoo slightly for you also,...

Crosses, praying hands, flaming sacred hears and doves characterize religious symbols. Also quite common are full reproductions of the Crucifixion and other well-known scenes from the Bible. Devout followers will often have fully landscaped myths tattooed on their backs, chest and arms depicting such scenes as The Last Supper or t0-scale reproductions of famous works such as the Sistine Chapel. Examples of religious tattoos Courtesy of Enrique Patino Bottino www.artesagrado.com

Tattoos of bones are as old as shamanism, healing and magic. This probably originates in the ancient superstitious belief that wearing death wards off death. The idea is that any evil that may approach the bearer of such a tattoo will be frightened away by the image of death on the body. A colorful custom design by Rueben Rue Kayden www.tattoorue.com Images of skulls also represent occult wisdom and psychic powers. Skull tattoos are very popular among bikers, Goths, Wiccans and in the military....

In ancient Asian cultures, tattoos were often applied to ensure long term physical health. The Tibetans equated designs called mantra wheels with many minutes of chanting. These designs were tattooed on chakra energy points on the body to help the bearer of the tattoo achieve physical, emotional and spiritual harmony. Sometimes tattoos were created from medicinal dyes and marked on acupuncture points of the body in an attempt to cure chronic health problems and diseases. In quite a few cultures...

Primitive peoples also used tattoos to create what are called clan markings. These marking came in handy during battle to identify foe from friend. These tattoos also guaranteed that you would be able to greet your friends again in heaven, after you had passed away. Family and marriage tattoos were also clan markings that enabled spouses who were separated in death to find each other again in the afterworld. A good example of this is the ancient Ainu tribe who believed that a bride without a...

In the 1960s tattooing for art's sake alone became popular and nowadays the sight of a tattoo on someone's shoulder, hip or ankle has become commonplace. In recent years Celtic Tattoos have enjoyed a revival, as have primitive tattoos. Some people collect tattoos the way others collect antiques or works of art. Others are interested in the super sleek designs that are a product of the thinking of the 21st century such as biomechanical designs which look like muscles beneath the flesh and...

Like most artists, tattoo artists have their own specific styles that they excel at and styles that they are not so good at. For example, if you want a realistic portrait of Marilyn Monroe on your arm, don't seek out an artist that specializes in reproducing lurid cartoons. Ultimately when it comes to tattooing, you are the art director and you are selecting the talent to realize your dream. Some tattoo artists are better at fine line tattoos than others, others have a knack for the rhythms and...

Everything Celtic, angelic, flaming, bony, satanic, druid-like, natural or celestial can comprise a Wiccan or pagan tattoo. Images of Gods or Goddesses or their symbols also comprise the vast array of symbols that represent the many sects to do with these religions. The Leaf Man by Tim Hanan www.fleshink.com Below is a list of common images found in these religions. The Rose Cross is a very important symbol in the Western Mystery Tradition, originating with the Rosicrucians. It is a holistic...

Tattoos are works of art that can be used as a vehicle to display your unique sense of individuality to the world. For instance, if you are into the undead scene others will be able to identify you by the ghostly spirit tattooed on your arm. If you are an art lover, an Andy Warhol or Leonardo Da Vinici inspired tattoo will deliver the message to others. The tattoo can also give others some idea of your occupation. A good example of a tattoo expressing an occupation or a hobby....

Animals are chosen as tattoos for many reasons. It may be just because you happen to like the four-legged fuzzy creature. It may be because you need to commemorate the memory of a special pet that has passed away. More often though, the animal is chosen either because the person identifies with the strengths and attributes of the creature and wishes to accentuate these traits in his her or her own character or because the animal functions for them as a shamanic spirit guide. Here is a...

Celtic tattoos are mainly characterized by their interlacing knots that are complete loops with no end or beginning. Sometimes the motif also features animals or a zoomorphorphic design that is stylized into a spiral. Knotwork designs are emblematic of the Celtic nationalities, even though the symbolism of many of the images have been lost through time. Trees, cauldrons, shamrocks, spirals, horned gods, wheels, mandalas, serpents, druids, dark jewels are signatures of the Celtic tattoo style....

Birds are symbols of soul freedom and the flight of the imagination. Tattoos of bird's feathers indicate honor, victory and shamanic powers. Birds' feathers are still used for various magical purposes such as conducting energy and decorating spiritual devices such as dreamcatchers. Tattoos of birds are found in just about every culture. Here is a brief, but by no means comprehensive list of the symbolism represented by birds that often appear as tattoo motifs. Bluebird - represent happiness,...

Whether they represent the purifying aspect of holy fire or the burning flames of Hell, flames are a huge motif in tattooing. Part of the reason for this may be that flames provide a brilliant background that allows a tattoo to really stand out. Common motifs include motorcycles in flames, babes in flames, sacred hearts in flames, crucifixes in flames and skull in flames. An Iron Cross in Flames by Enrique Patino Bottino www.artesagrado.com An Iron Cross in Flames by Enrique Patino Bottino...

Tattooing was revolutionized by Samuel O'Reilly's invention of the electric tattoo machine during the last decade of the 19 th century. The time required to complete a design went from hours to minutes, moving the art away from personally conceived, hand picked designs towards stock choices that were displayed like art on the walls of the tattoo parlor. Much of this tattooing was also conducted in the back of beer halls and barbershops. The years ahead would see vast improvements in O'Reilly's...

In the 1970s, the counter culture in America rediscovered the beauty of primitive and tribal taboos. The most copied designs are primarily from Borneo, Japan, and the islands of the South Pacific. In the 1980's, Celtic tattoos became very popular, probably as a result of the popularity of Wiccan and pagan religions among young people. Most modern Celtic designs are sourced from ancient scrolls called the Irish Illuminated Manuscripts, which were created during the sixth and seventh centuries....

Whether they be large and elaborate, tiny and demure or part of the background of a tattoo, flowers are one of the most common motifs found in tattoo art. The rose with its association with romance and fidelity probably tops the list when it comes to favorite flowers. Stock Rose Tattoo found at www.findatattoo.com Below is a list of common flowers and their symbolic meanings. amaryllis - pride, pastoral poetry aster - symbol of love, daintiness azalea - take care of yourself for me, temperance,...

As tattoos, the creation of demons and monsters on the skin work psychologically and spiritually in the same way that images of skulls and bones do. A winged devil skeleton tattoo by Dave Mcormick. www.fleshink.com The symbolic purpose of the monster is to protect the wearer from evil spirits who may identify the beast as being part of or a guardian of the person. Laughing Red Devil by Dave Mcormick www.fleshink.com Devils, gargoyles, winged creatures and dragons are the most popular type of...

When European explorers first arrived in the New World, they discovered that tattooing was a large part of the stone-age culture practiced by Native Americans. Common among most tribes were geometric patterns and dots that were applied to celebrate the individual's passage into puberty. Many tribes, including the Sioux Indians believed that a tatoo was necessary in order to gain passage into the other world. After an almost two thousand year absence from popular culture, the phenomena of...

If the tattoo itches, don't scratch it. Don't pick at scabs, rub it or press it against your body. You may try to allay the itchy feeling by gently patting the area with the flat side of your very clean fingers. Believe it or not it is entirely possible to scratch the ink right out of the tattoo during the first few days of healing 2. Stay out of the sun. This could cause the tattoo to discolor. A sunburn on top of a tattoo can also be very uncomfortable. Don't apply sunscreen on top of a...

Stock cartoon images that are licensed for the express purposes of tattooing are now big business in North America. On the Internet one can now purchase images of Betty Boop, Scooby Doo, Mickey Mouse, Batman, Spiderman, Superman, the Tasmanian Devil, Babar the Elephant, Nemo and just about any other animated character you can imagine. Anime action figures, which most of us are familiar with from manga cartoons are also big business in the tattoo industry and feature such popular characters as...

The symbolism of prison and criminal tattoos is an area of real esoteric interest to some and of real interest to the police. An article written by Sergeant Ken Whitley called Tattoos Recognition and Interpretation claims that a tattoo can tell you three things about a convict who he is, where he has been and what he has done. As these kinds of tattoos are usually done in prison, freehand with ink from a pen. A sewing needle is used to form a picture or a word. Prisoners also make a homemade...

The rise of the Christian and Islamic religions brought a halt to tattooing in the Europe in the Middle East. In the Old Testament of the Bible, the book of Leviticus states, Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you I am the Lord. This crede against tattooing caused the practice to disappear for about two thousand years as both the Christians and the Moslems revere the Old Testament. Still despite the widespread popularity of this religious belief,...

Purists would say that a tattoo is not a true biker tattoos unless it contains the Harley Davidson logo. Although the Harley Davidson symbols are pretty much the same, many of them are dressed up with other symbols such as jaguars, eagles, feathers, skulls, dragons, bats, flames and hot babes. Many bikers simply opt to get a photo of their custom chopper tattooed on their arm. Often those into customizing choppers will boast tattoos of nuts and bolts, screws, wheel hubs and other motorcycle...

These mythic creatures that have existed in every culture since before the birth of Christ are especially popular choices for tattoos for women. Most designs find their origins in Celtic or British art. A Dragon Fly Fairy by Enrique Patino Bottino www.artesagrado.com A Flower Fairy by Tim Hanan www.artfultattoo.dyns.net Fairy Under an Umbrella by Stacey Sharp www.sharptattoos.com The most popular fantasy figures are dragons, wizards and unicorns. Images of wizards, with their long cloaks and...

Just like any art form, tattoos can be expressed as line drawings, paintings, cartoons, caricatures or even as airbrushed creations. Tattoos may be classified into distinct styles, much as painting may be classified into the styles of impressionism, realism, cubism, etc. Each style incorporates specific artistic elements which many are not familiar with. So here's a look at tattoos, not as a form of rebellion, a health hazard, or a display of coolness, but as an art form. The following is a...

In the ancient and primitive worlds, tattoos were also used as love charms. Often the dye used for these types of tattoos was concocted from magical ingredients. For instance, the dye for an ancient Burmese love charm is made from a recipe that consists of a bright purple pigment called vermilion and the skins of a trout and a spotted lizard. This tattoo was usually a small triangle created by three dots and was concealed by clothing so that others could not identify it. Nowadays the...

Depictions of the planets and stars and their symbols are very common motifs in tattoo art. Perhaps one of the most famous planetary glyphs and symbols is the symbol for Mars and Venus that is interlinked. This mark symbolizes the eternal dance between male and female energies. The sun is a motif from early childhood that represents glory, achievement, wealth, love and prosperity. The moon is an occult symbol symbolizing the subconscious, intuition, sexual and esoteric mysteries and the...

If you can't afford a tattoo, than accept your circumstances. Although a tattoo is priceless, it can also be considered to be a form of beauty treatment. You wouldn't allow a bad hairdresser to butcher your hair, so don't let an affordable tattoo artist brand you for life with a marking that you might dislike. As with any product, the cost of a tattoo varies from artist to artist. Popular or award winning artists will always charge more than inexperienced artists. The cheapest tattoo is a flash...

Commemorative tattoos are used to remember or mark an important event such as a death, world disaster or triumph in war. Most commemorative tattoos are custom tattoos that incorporate several elements to make it a personal item. Examples of two custom tattoos remembering the events of September 11th. Photos reprinted with permission of Stacy Sharp www.sharptattoos.com Commemorative tattoos can also mark the passing of a loved or celebrate a birth or the eternity of a special relationship. An...

There are literally thousands of Eastern Religious symbols that find their origins in countries such as China, Japan, Tibet and Thailand. Perhaps one of the most popular of these symbols is the lotus flower that symbolizes the oneness of being with universal consciousness. The symbol stands for the six syllables of the holiest mantra of Tibetan Buddhism OM Mani Padme Hum together form a very powerful symbol of balance, liberation and enlightenment. Stock Tattoo of Lotus Flower Found at...

Egyptian tattoos are usually an expression of an affinity with the occult. The most popular tattoos are the eye of Horus, which is a powerful symbol of protection, health and wisdom. Goddesses such as Isis, the Goddess of Wisdom and Bastet, a goddess with the head of a cat are also popular Egyptian tattoo motifs. A modern depiction of the Goddess Isis By Dave Mcormick of wwwfleshink.com King Tut's Death Mask tattoo by Enrique Patino Bottino www.artesagrado.com